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Lesson Plan
7 Video Lessons · 1H 31M
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1. Course Overview
Humans have been building with wood for thousands of years. Pro builder Jordan Smith discusses that history, different types of house framing, and the advantages of using wood in construction.
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2. Properties of Wood
What is wood, really? Learn the composition of wood, the difference between hardwoods and softwoods, and how we measure properties like hardness, density, and strength.
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3. Forces and Stresses
In construction, wood has to withstand a lot of different forces. Learn about compression, tension, torsion, and shear, and how to think about loading scenarios.
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4. Lumber Grades, Sizes, and Types
Why isn't a two-by-four actually 2 inches by 4 inches? What's pressure treated lumber? What grade lumber should you use on your build? Jordan answers these questions and more.
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5. Engineered Wood
Jordan explains LSLs, LVLs, plywood, and the advantages and disadvantages of using engineered lumber instead of solid wood.
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6. Joists and Glulams
Learn about a few key structural members that are commonly used in light construction.
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7. Sheet Goods
Sheet goods are what keep the elements out of a finished house, and what help the structure resist shear forces. Jordan explains a few key techniques used to manufacture modern sheet goods.
Who it's for: This course is for those beginning in the trades, or those wanting to learn more about wood materials.
Key Topics
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Hardwoods versus softwoods
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Wood fundamentals
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Loading scenarios
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Lumber grades
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Engineered woods (lsls, lvls, plywood)
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Sheet goods
5 stars
Overall rating of 17 students
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5 out of 5
Rhenan B.,
Jun 23, 2024
Great information and explanation about the materials used in wood construction
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5 out of 5
Helen H.,
Sep 08, 2023
...
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5 out of 5
Robert B L.,
Jun 29, 2023
Nothing left to guese about. Total coverage of topic
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5 out of 5
Benjamin J.,
May 25, 2023
I enjoyed it
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5 out of 5
Nathan M.,
May 23, 2023
H
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5 out of 5
`David L.,
Feb 14, 2023
Great course, very thorough in that it answers all my questions about different framing materials, grades and their application
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5 out of 5
Stephen Z.,
Feb 07, 2023
Complete coverage
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5 out of 5
Logan G.,
Jan 19, 2023
Wood Materials
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5 out of 5
Mark T.,
Nov 11, 2022
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5 out of 5
Patrick G.,
Sep 19, 2022
Covered a lot of useful information regarding lumber
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5 out of 5
Chris C.,
Sep 19, 2022
very strong
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5 out of 5
Patrick K.,
Sep 15, 2022
Good
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5 out of 5
Stephen B.,
Aug 18, 2022
Learned alot about engineered lumber
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5 out of 5
Darrel D.,
Mar 26, 2022
Great job
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5 out of 5
Mark F.,
Mar 01, 2022
As an apprentice carpenter who doesnt use many structural materials as often, this course showed me alot about some of the materials out there for some projects in the future we might need some of...
Read More... -
5 out of 5
Marisol C.,
Jul 21, 2021
Types of wood
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5 out of 5
Steve B.,
Mar 25, 2021
Jordan does a great job explaining the different materials and the benefits. Highly recommend.
Jordan Smith
CEO of Smith House Company
Your Instructor
Jordan Smith is the CEO and Founder of Smith House Company, a design+build firm based in Austin, Texas. He learned to build and weld while working on the farm with his grandad, and after earning a degree in Welding and Materials Engineering, he spent the next 10 years working in the heavy construction building everything from robots to ships to offshore oil rigs before transitioning to residential construction. After spending a couple of years working with industry leading builders in Austin, Jordan and his wife Veronica struck out on their own to form Smith House Co.
Smith House Co. strives to build more beautiful, functional and resilient spaces which are self sustaining and harmonize with their natural surroundings.
Become Job Ready
This course will increase your knowledge for jobs like:
Carpenter
Apprentice Carpenter
Construction Laborer
Carpenter's Assistant
Carpenter Helper
Remodeler
For more information on these roles, visit our career page.
Search for these jobs at:
Common Questions
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What is MT Copeland?
MT Copeland helps you further your career in the building industry with expert-led online education that will make you a better, smarter tradesperson.
Our training courses give you a foundation in construction fundamentals and trade skills with real-world applications and best practices to help you grow on the job.
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What do courses include?
Online courses include professionally produced videos taught by leaders in the trades and supplementary learning material such as quizzes, assessments and downloadable materials to help you acquire new skills. Watch anywhere, always at your own pace. We keep lesson videos short so they’re easy to watch after work or on your lunch break. You can finish a course in one sitting, or space it out over a week or two.
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Can you learn with MT Copeland outside of the u.s.?
Yes! You can take MT Copeland courses from anywhere in the world. Our courses are online, so if you have access to the Internet, you can watch our training videos. Courses are taught in English, with English captions and Spanish subtitles available.
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Where did the name MT Copeland come from?
MT Copeland was named after a legendary educator who promoted the idea that training in a specific trade paired with a knowledge of general business principles opens up a whole new world of career possibilities. We believe in the same powerful combination of skills and knowledge.
